Pence accuses Clinton of ‘pay to play’ between foundation, state department

Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence campaigned in Cedar Rapids this afternoon, blasting Democrat Hillary Clinton over her use of email while she was secretary of state.

“Judicial Watch just released 725 more pages of state department documents that apparently show a top aide to Secretary Clinton gave expedited and direct access to top Clinton Foundation donors,” Pence said. “I mean, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for Hillary Clinton to come clean about the Clinton Foundation.”

Last week, the Clinton Foundation announced it would no longer accept foreign or corporate donations if Clinton becomes president. Today, Bill Clinton announced he’ll no longer raise money for the foundation and will not serve on its board. Pence said that’s not enough.

“Apparently, she’ll have a conflict of interest with the Clinton Foundation if she becomes president, but she I guess she didn’t have a conflict of interest accepting foreign donations when she was secretary of state of the United States of America,” Pence said in Cedar Rapids.

Pence is joining Donald Trump in calling for Clinton to shut down the Clinton Foundation now.

“The American people are sick and tired of the ‘pay to play’ politics in Washington, D.C. When Donald Trump becomes president of the United States, we’re going to bring ‘pay to play’ politics to a crashing halt on day one,” Pence said, to cheers.

Pence toured a business in Cedar Rapids, spoke to about 200 people for about half an hour, then fielded four questions. One man asked if Trump’s attorney general would be able or willing to prosecute Clinton.

“Look, no one is above the law. That is an enduring American principle,” Pence said, to applause.

Pence stopped there, then pivoted and called on Clinton to answer questions in public about the Clinton Foundation.

“Hillary is hiding and Donald Trump is everywhere,” Pence said. “I mean he gave four or five major addresses last week all over the country on a broad range of issues and Hillary Clinton has gone more than 250 days without having a press conference, without answering questions in the media.”

The Clinton campaign has responded to criticism of the Clintons’ global charity by raising questions about Trump’s business dealings. Clinton’s campaign chairman said Trump should release his tax returns so Americans know more about Trump’s “complex network of for-profit businesses.”

The Clinton campaign in Iowa organized a conference call several hours before Pence’s appearance. An Iowa labor leader cited Trump’s bankruptcies and stories from contractors who have sued Trump over unpaid bills.